Killer (belgian band)

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killer
General information
Genre (s) Heavy metal , power metal
founding 1980,
new foundations: 1989, 2002
resolution 1987, 1991
Website www.users.telenet.be/4-killer/
Founding members
Paul "Shorty" Van Camp (until 1987, 1989–1991, 1997, since 2002)
Vocals, bass
Ivo "Spooky" Van Doren (until 1987, 1989–1991, 1997, 2009–2010)
"Fat" Leo Felsenstein (until 1981)
Current occupation
Vocals, guitar
 Paul "Shorty" Van Camp (until 1987, 1989–1991, 1997, since 2002)
Vocals, bass
 Ian "Jakke" Anthonis (since 2010)
Drums
 Ivan "Vanne" Opdebeeck (1997, since 2002)
former members
Vocals, bass
Ivo "Spooky" Van Doren (1980–1987, 1989–1991, 1997, 2009–2010)
guitar
 Jan Van Springel (1989-1991)
bass
 Bart "Spin" Verhaert (2002-2006)
bass
 Ken Van Steenbergen (2006-2009)
Drums
 "Fat" Leo Felsenstein (1980–1981)
Drums
 Robert "Double Bear" Cogen (1981-1987)
Drums
 Rudy Simons (1989-1991)
Dave Powell (2002-2013)

Killer is a Belgian heavy metal band that was formed in 1980, was heavily influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and has stylistic similarities to Motörhead .

Band history

Founding of the band and publication of the debut album: Ready for Hell 1980–1981

The band Killer was founded in 1980 by guitarist and singer Paul "Shorty" Van Camp and drummer "Fat" Leo Felsenstein, after the two of them left their previous rock and blues formation Mothers of Track, which existed for about ten years and had four singles as well released an album, disbanded. After that it went pretty quickly: after a few auditions, the band was completed with bassist and singer Ivo "Spooky" Van Doren. He previously played the bass for a Belgian band called Trash and caught the eye of the two band founders back in the days of Mothers of Track, when Trash appeared in their opening act. From then on Van Camp and Van Doren shared the vocals. In the next four months, the newly formed Belgian band was able to win a record deal with WEA Records and record their debut album in the Dig-It Studios in Aalst . This work, produced by drummer “Fat” Leo Felsenstein, was finally published in 1981 under the title Ready for Hell . Not only the fact that Killer relied on a line-up as a trio revealed similarities to Motörhead , but also the musical direction was reminiscent of the British band around Lemmy Kilmister from the first album on . At the end of 1981 the line-up changed for the first time: “Fat” Leo Felsenstein cleared the place on drums for Robert “Double Bear” Cogen. The former drummer stayed with the band as organizer of the stage set-ups and merchandise sales and took over the management of the band together with Alfie Falckenbach and Stonne Holmgren. Due to extensive live activities, Killer was able to gain a high level of awareness throughout Europe and beyond after the release of Ready for Hell .

The optimization of the stylistic direction and the international breakthrough: Wall of Sound 1982

After changing the drums, Killer recorded their songs for the upcoming second studio album from January to February 1982 with the line-up of Paul "Shorty" Van Camp, Ivo "Spooky" Van Doren and Robert "Double Bear" Cogen. Since Robert “Double Bear” Cogen was a proven metal drummer, unlike his predecessor “Fat” Leo Felsenstein, who was more blues and rock-oriented, and integrated the double bass technique into the musical sound of Killer, the second work was stylistically closer to Motörhead's musical direction . The album Wall of Sound, again produced by Leo Felsenstein and released in 1982 via the Lark Records label, consolidated the stylistic direction of the Belgian trio. This work, which was re-recorded at Dig-It Studios in Aalst , marked Killer's international breakthrough. After the release of Wall of Sound , the band toured extensively. In addition, they were shown on some European festival stages. Among other things, they played together with Anvil , Gary Moore , Uriah Heep , Baron Rojo, Golden Earring , Viva , Ostrogoth and the French metal band Warning at the first Heavy Sound Festival in Bruges .

The move to Mausoleum Records and the consolidation of international fame: Shock Waves 1983–1985

In 1982 Alfie Falckenbach founded the record company Mausoleum Records together with "Fat" Leo Felsenstein and Stonne Holmgren . Killer immediately signed them, which was not surprising given the good contacts between the band and the label founders. One of the label's first releases was the split EP If It's Loud, We're Proud , released in 1983, which featured two other Belgian bands in addition to Killer, Ostrogoth and Crossfire. Killer contributed two songs: on the one hand "Walls of Hell", a medley from the two title songs of the already released albums Ready for Hell and Wall of Sound , and on the other hand an exclusive recording of the song "Blood on the Chains", the one Year later for the third studio album Shock Waves was re-recorded. That same year, Killer made its first appearance on Belgian television. "Shorty", "Spooky" and "Double Bear" were interviewed as part of a metal special on the Belgian music show Pop Elektron, in which Saxon was also a guest, before they presented "Kleptomania" from their album Wall of Sound to the audience .

With the new record company Mausoleum Records behind them, Killer took off even more. In the same line-up as the previous Wall of Sound , with Paul "Shorty" Van Camp on guitar, Ivo "Spooky" Van Doren on bass and Robert "Double Bear" Cogen on drums - although Van Camp and Van Doren are still each other shared the vocals - the songs for the third studio album Shock Waves were recorded from September to October 1983 . This time, however, the recordings no longer took place in the Dig-It Studios in Aalst , but in Harry's studio in Heist-op-den-Berg , as Luc Ardyns gave up his recording studio in Aalst and sold the equipment to Harry's studio. This time produced by Killer and Jos Kloeck, Shock Waves , in which the Killer logo was used for the first time, was finally released in 1984 and received positive reviews worldwide. The career of one of the first Belgian metal bands knew only one way from the band's formation to 1984, namely uphill. However, this rise was to be stopped suddenly in 1985.

The big disappointment: Still Alive in Eighty-Five 1985–1987

After the release of the third studio album, Shock Waves , which was received consistently positively by the international music press, Killer seemed to be on the verge of a major global breakthrough. But in the end it turned out differently: As usual, the ambitious live band Killer went on tour after the release of a studio album. But this concert tour, which started in 1984, was to be a special one, because after three studio albums the plan was to release a double live album, equipped with old hits and some new material. In 1985, a gig in Antwerp , which was enthusiastically acclaimed by the fans, was recorded, during which over 100 fans climbed onto the stage during the last song “No Future” and supported the band with vocals. This live recording was recorded and mixed by Dieter Dierks . A cover artwork for the live album, which was already titled Still Alive in Eighty-Five , was also already completed. But in the end, the band's longing for release failed due to financial problems at the record company Mausoleum Records. Therefore, there were financial and legal differences with the recording studio in Brussels , where the final mix of the album was made, and the studio owner no longer released the finished mixes due to a lack of payments from the record label. He kept it as a deposit, so to speak. When Mausoleum finally went bankrupt in 1986, the release of the live album was finally off the table. This failed dream had the effect of a blockade on the band members of Killer, a band that enjoyed the reputation of an excellent live band, and was to have a lasting impact on the band's subsequent history. In 1986 they did a much-acclaimed headlining tour through Poland, i.e. on the other side of the Iron Curtain, which was not exactly common at the time, but the concert halls that were consistently sold out with more than 10,000 spectators could not be over the disappointment of the still unreleased consoling remaining live albums. Demotivated and disaffected, “Shorty” Van Camp, “Spooky” Van Doren and “Double Bear” Cogen broke up the band for the first time in 1987 and the abrupt end of Killer's promising career seemed to have come to an end.

Between the first dissolution and the first reunion: the solo projects 1987–1989

Although Killer broke up for the first time in 1987, the band members did not remain idle afterwards. Guitarist and singer Paul "Shorty" Van Camp immediately turned to solo activities and, in addition to Robert "Double Bear" Cogen on drums, gathered new musical colleagues around him: rhythm guitarist Olaf Van Deuren and bassist Luc "Apache" D ', who is also responsible for the vocals. hoore completed the line-up of the newly formed band Van Camp, who released the album Too Wild to Tame that same year . The album, which technically continued the tradition of Killer, but revealed more playful freedom for "Shorty" Van Camp, was recorded in the ACE Studios in Antwerp and produced again by Jos Kloeck, who was already involved in the production of the 1984 album Shock Waves was responsible. Four songs from this album, which was released via CNR Records, were later to appear on re-releases of killer albums: First, the tracks "From Nine to Five", "Too Wild to Tame", "Crazy Circus" and "Chinese Woman" found the Way to the 2002 CD re-release of Fatal Attraction , before the same four songs appeared as bonus tracks on the 2012 CD re-release of Ready for Hell . This release policy at least raises the question of why the other four songs were not used as bonus tracks for Ready for Hell or why the album was not completely reissued or was added in full as a bonus to a killer re-release.

In addition to “Shorty” Van Camp and “Double Bear” Cogen, who were both involved in “Shorty's” solo project Van Camp, Ivo “Spooky” Van Doren did not remain idle during this time. This is revealed in the compilation "Big Steel", which also appeared in 1988 on the compilation Heavy, Hell & Metal . The song, written by Van Doren and recorded with guest singer Rosie (not Doro Pesch , as is often assumed), is one of three songs that Van Doren recorded for a demo release. Nothing is known about this demo, except that the future drummer of Killer, Rudy Simmons, was involved in the recording. The song “Big Steel” is also interesting in that it is printed in the track list of the 1988 compilation Heavy, Hell & Metal without an exact band or artist name. This allowed the interpretations that "Big Steel" is either to be attributed to the band Killer or only to the songwriter of the song Van Doren. Even today you can find contradicting information about this on the Internet. However, since the song was written at a time when Killer was not active and drummer Rudy Simmons also confirmed that "Big Steel" was a demo recording of a Van Doren solo project, the assignment is basically clarified, the exact band - or artist name, however, not.

In addition to “Big Steel”, this compilation Heavy, Hell & Metal also contains a previously unreleased recording of Killer: With the live recording of “In the Name of the Law” in 1988, a song for the live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five , which was recorded in Antwerp. Two more live recordings of this performance, "Shock Waves" and "Scarecrow", were also released in 1988, this time on the compilation Power Metal - Heavy Metal from Benelux . The two songs were combined into one track. In 2012 these three live recordings were to be reused as bonus tracks for the CD re-release of Shock Waves .

The first reunion and the addition to a quartet: Fatal Attraction 1989–1991

After Ivo “Spooky” van Doren did not publish any further musical signs of life with his solo project apart from the song “Big Steel” on the sampler Heavy, Hell & Metal , in 1989 he toyed with the idea of ​​reforming Killer with a completely new line-up. He envisaged the musicians of his solo project as additional band members: Jan Van Springel on guitar and Rudy Simons on drums, who previously played for White Fang, should complete the new line-up. Only at the last moment, Paul "Shorty" Van Camp joined this reunion as a second founding member, after his solo band Van Camp had formed after about ten appearances, among others. a. also together with Candlemass , had recently disbanded. The former drummer Robert "Double Bear" Cogen showed no interest in the reunion, however, as he was now active in several cover bands. Formed as a quartet for the first time in the band's history - by the way, another parallel to Motörhead , since the band around Lemmy Kilmister also consisted of four musicians in the meantime - Killer set out to record a new studio album in the CAS Studios in St. Ingbert, Saarland . The fourth studio work produced by “Shorty” Van Camp, “Spooky” Van Doren and Alfie Falckenbach, ultimately named Fatal Attraction , was released in 1990 on the also reformed record label Mausoleum - but initially only in Germany. From a stylistic point of view, seamlessly following on from the three previous studio albums, Fatal Attraction's “Steel Meets Steel” also included a new recording of the sampler contribution “Big Steel” from 1988, but this time without guest singer Rosie - “Shorty” Van Camp and “Spooky” Van Doren shared how often before the singing. Following the release of the album, Killer went on a tour through Germany that lasted until 1991. But then a new style within rock music should shake the various classic varieties of hard rock and heavy metal to their foundations. The wave of graves led to the fact that these musical styles lost their popularity almost suddenly and, as a result, their representatives - namely the bands that stood for these genres. In short: Hard rock and heavy metal were no longer in demand in the early 90s, which is why the band members of Killer threw in the towel a second time.

Between second dissolution and second reunion: isolated revivals as a trio 1991–2002

After Killer broke up again in 1991, Paul “Shorty” Van Camp and Ivo “Spooky” Van Doren started a stylistic new beginning in 1993: Under the name Blues Express, as the name suggests, they dedicated themselves to the traditional blues. The newly formed blues combo, which has seen several line-up changes in the course of its existence, composed its own songs and also recorded a few demos, but the main focus of the band was on live performances of old blues classics. In the meantime, however, the name killer also emerged from oblivion occasionally during this period. In 1997 "Shorty" Van Camp and "Spooky" Van Doren reformed the band for individual appearances. With a new drummer named Ivan “Vanne” Opdebeeck, the band performed - as in the early 80s as a trio - five gigs, a. a. at 't Heem in Meeuwen . But it stayed that way for the time being. Also in 1997 the fourth recording of the still unreleased live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five was released . The live recording of "Kleptomania" was published on the CD Greenbellies Vol. 2 , which was included in an issue of the Belgian print metal magazine Mindview. In 2012 this live version also appeared as a bonus track on the re-release of the album Shock Waves . In 1999 Blues Express broke up after 6 years of existence due to musical differences. Following this, Paul “Shorty” Van Camp founded two formations called Blackjack and Gypsy in 1999 with drummer “Vanne” Opdebeeck and bassist Ian “Jakke” Anthonis. While Blackjack was a pure cover band, mainly rock classics and the like. a. reenacted by Deep Purple or ZZ Top , Gypsy was a Jimi-Hendrix co-band that also composed its own songs.

2002 until today

In 2003, a live compilation of a concert on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Mausoleum Records was released, in which Killer participated with five songs. Two of the songs were recorded with Doro Pesch , who sang the two Warlock classics All We Are and Burning the Witches .

Since then the band has been active again in a new line-up and has released two albums so far.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1980: Ready for Hell (was re-released in 2012 with four bonus tracks - four songs from the solo album Too Wild to Tame by guitarist and singer Paul "Shorty" Van Camp)
  • 1982: Wall of Sound (was re-released in 2012 with a bonus track - the medley "Walls of Hell")
  • 1984: Shock Waves (was re-released in 2012 with four bonus tracks - four live recordings of the unreleased live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five )
  • 1990: Fatal Attraction (was re-released in 2002 with four bonus tracks - the same four songs from the solo album Too Wild to Tame by guitarist and singer Paul "Shorty" Van Camp as in the re-release of Ready for Hell )
  • 2003: Broken Silence
  • 2005: Immortal
  • 2015: Monsters of Rock

Live albums

  • 1985: Still Alive in Eighty-Five (unpublished)

Split EPs

  • 1983: If It's Loud, We're Proud (contains the medley "Walls of Hell" and an alternate version of "Blood on the Chains")

Non-album tracks included on various artist compilations

  • 1988: "In the Name of the Law" (Live) ( Heavy, Hell & Metal ) (The live version of "In the Name of the Law" comes from the live recordings that were originally planned for the 1985 but not yet released live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five .)
  • 1988: "Shock Waves-Scarecrow" (Live) ( Power Metal - Heavy Metal from Benelux ) (The two live versions of "Shock Waves" and "Scarecrow" - here combined into one track - come from the live recordings that were actually made for the 1985 planned but previously unreleased live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five .)
  • 1997: "Kleptomania" (Live) ( Greenbellies Vol. 2 , promo booklet CD of the Belgian print metal magazine Mindview) (The live version of "Kleptomania" comes from the live recordings that were actually planned for 1985, but not yet published live album Still Alive in Eighty-Five .)
  • 2003: "Kleptomania" (Live), "Blinded" (Live), "Ready for Hell" (Live), "All We Are" (Live), "Burning the Witches" (Live) ( Mausoleum - The Official 20th Anniversary Concert Album ) (The last two songs mentioned are live covers of Warlock , on which Doro Pesch was a guest singer.)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n truemetalfan.org - Killer . Last accessed on October 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x users.telenet.be - Killer - History . Last accessed on October 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ users.telenet.be - Heavy Sound 1 Festival . Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  4. ↑ discogs.com - Various - If It's Loud, We're Proud . Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ youtube.com - Killer at Pop Elektron, Interview + Kleptomania 1983 . Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ discogs.com - Harry's Studio . Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ a b c youtube.com - Heavy, Hell & Metal - Compilation 1988 (Full CD) . Last accessed on September 6, 2017.